Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple-Sclerosis
Alicia Robinson
Alaina Geeter
Lecture 2113/4
Fall 2014
Dr. Rizk
Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is one of the most common diseases of the nervous system. It has been around for over a century, before doctors even knew what it was. MS is a disabling disease of the central nervous system, or CNS, that disrupts the flow of communication and information between the brain and the body. It affects various parts of the body and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin, a sheath-like membrane that covers and protects your nerves. The exact cause of MS is not known and there is currently no cure. Some symptoms of MS are blurred vision, numbness, pain, loss of bladder control, and difficulty walking. MS is a nuerodegenerative disease and inflammtory immune condition the eventually weakens the muscles, making it difficult to walk on your own. Images and studies of the brain show plaques, or areas of scar tissue caused by inflammation of the brain. MS affects woman about twice as much than men, between the ages of twenty and fifty. It is not necessarily a genetically inherited disease, meaning the parents do not have to pass it on to the child. But if you have a twin who has it you are more likely to have it as well. Caucasian people, particularly of North European descent are at the highest risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Treatment of the years for MS has certainly advanced, however this is still no cure. The treatment now focuses on recovering from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease, and managing the symptoms. Corticosteroids are used to reduce nerve inflammation. There are some side effects though, that include, insomnia, increased blood pressure, mood swings and fluid retention. Plasma exchange may be used if your symptoms are severe. This means taking the plasma portion of your blood, seperating it from your blood cells, mixing it with a protein solution called albumin, and
Alicia Robinson
Alaina Geeter
Lecture 2113/4
Fall 2014
Dr. Rizk
Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is one of the most common diseases of the nervous system. It has been around for over a century, before doctors even knew what it was. MS is a disabling disease of the central nervous system, or CNS, that disrupts the flow of communication and information between the brain and the body. It affects various parts of the body and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin, a sheath-like membrane that covers and protects your nerves. The exact cause of MS is not known and there is currently no cure. Some symptoms of MS are blurred vision, numbness, pain, loss of bladder control, and difficulty walking. MS is a nuerodegenerative disease and inflammtory immune condition the eventually weakens the muscles, making it difficult to walk on your own. Images and studies of the brain show plaques, or areas of scar tissue caused by inflammation of the brain. MS affects woman about twice as much than men, between the ages of twenty and fifty. It is not necessarily a genetically inherited disease, meaning the parents do not have to pass it on to the child. But if you have a twin who has it you are more likely to have it as well. Caucasian people, particularly of North European descent are at the highest risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Treatment of the years for MS has certainly advanced, however this is still no cure. The treatment now focuses on recovering from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease, and managing the symptoms. Corticosteroids are used to reduce nerve inflammation. There are some side effects though, that include, insomnia, increased blood pressure, mood swings and fluid retention. Plasma exchange may be used if your symptoms are severe. This means taking the plasma portion of your blood, seperating it from your blood cells, mixing it with a protein solution called albumin, and
Cited: Facts, Th E Basic. The History of MS (n.d.): n. pag. Web. "The History of Multiple Sclerosis: How Far Have We Come?" The History of Multiple Sclerosis: How Far Have We Come? N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. "Multiple Sclerosis." Treatments and Drugs. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014. "Multiple Sclerosis." University of Maryland Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. "Multiple-Sclerosis." N.p., n.d. Web.